£8m of Government funding announced to improve HGV rest areas

By Matt de Prez

11 September 2023

Rest areas for HGV drivers will be improved with an £8m funding boost from the Department for Transport.

A total of 39 roadside facility operators across England will each receive a share of £8m from the department and a further £11 million from industry, to upgrade truck stops for lorry drivers.

The funding comes from the Government’s HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme.

The improvements will boost welfare facilities like showers, rest areas and restaurants, and increase HGV parking capacity while improving security for drivers.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “Day and night, our lorry drivers and hauliers work tirelessly to deliver essential food, goods and medical supplies up and down the country.

“As we continue supporting the haulage sector in playing their crucial role in helping to grow the economy, these first winners will help ensure lorry drivers have great facilities where they can safely park, sleep and rest.”

With hauliers required to take mandatory breaks and rest periods, DfT says building better roadside facilities will improve the quality of HGV drivers’ rest and recovery, resulting in safer roads.

The measure is part of the Government’s 33 actions to address the shortage of HGV drivers and boost recruitment and retention. This includes investing £34 million to create up to 11,000 HGV driver training places through Skills Bootcamps, and increasing the number of HGV driver tests by 90% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Richard Smith, RHA managing director, said: “We are pleased that the first tranche of grants has been announced and that lorry drivers will soon benefit from the improvements this scheme is helping to fund.

“We would encourage other operators to apply for funding to help them upgrade too. Better facilities, and more safe and secure parking for truckers are a key priority for our industry.”

Roadside facility operators can also bid for further funding to continue improving lorry roadside facilities across England. Up to £35m is available under the Government's match-funding scheme.